Silvarum, Book I: Frost is continuing to slowly gain more exposure throughout the universe and receive a few more reviews. I'm currently multitasking the continuation of Part II of Book I, with the ongoing development of Outpost 28, Issue #2. Nevertheless, I've been able to complete chapters 23 and 24, having just had chapter 23 fully edited. In my opinion, it's a pretty awesome chapter, full of wicked humor and descriptive gore. The villionous mini-boss, Count Zaran, is finally introduced and let me be the first to tell you, this dude is seriously fucked up. He will serve as a worthy bad-guy, aside from Book One's ultimate boss, the dragon, Lord Mortis. Chapter 24, Fireflies on the Road, returnes us to the company of Roger, Mckenzie, Marie, Frederick, Arina, Merkresh, and of course, Click as they begin their journey through the Blackwood Forest. Keep up with the progress of the second half of Book I: Frost by clicking here.

I finished this son-of-a-gun a few months ago after I returned from the NecronomiCon in Providence, RI. It will be a new illustration added to the deluxe edition of Silvarum, that will be published (hopefully) around October 2018. I'm still working out where this scene will play out in the story, but I'm pretty sure that this will be when Benjamin Woods crosses over into the Tombworld after he and Gothkar make their escape from Kadiaphonek. His homie Gothkar will have his own zany task to complete. Not to worry! The gate itself is inspired by the real-life courtyard shrine at the Edgar Allan Poe Museum in Richmond, VA that I did a show at in 2017. Keep up with the progress of the second half of Book I: Frost by clicking here.

"She turned her attention back to the grassy riverbank and saw her friends smiling at her. At the same time, she could also discern the forest behind, and the blue sky above. How was this possible? She could see everything at once, yet still retain focus on a singular point. Not only that, but she suddenly realized that visible light was not the only range she was able to perceive within the electromagnetic spectrum. Ultraviolet, radio waves, infrared, and X-rays danced around her in a ballet of color and structure. Free from the confines of her human brain, she could easily process all the information. It flowed naturally for her, like a tributary of data and light." --Silvarum, Book I: Frost

In comparison to this time last year (see way down below), many cool projects have been completed and many are currently in development. The first part of Silvarum, Book I: Frost was finished and published. It was also debuted at the 2017 NecronomiCon and is currently finding its way onto the shelves of multiple bookstores on the East Coast. Writing for Part II: Departure is in full swing! In addition, Issue #2 for Outpost 28 has been resurrected and is composed of many amazing artists, writers, and musicians. I'm really looking forward to merging all their incredible work into a quality publication. As a result, I predict 2018 will be an amazing year for Silvarum and Outpost 28!

For one of the dark tales in Outpost 28, Issue #2, I will be writing about a girl named Abigail Somberlain. She is one of the main characters from my fantasy series Silvarum. The story called "Windowpane" will take place within the solitary confines of Abigail's San Francisco home, tucked away betwixt the rolling fog and eucalyptus trees. The cover of issue #2 is an illustration of her unfortunate situation. Since the second part of Silvarum, Book I: Frost, Departure, will not be released until fall 2018, this should serve as a small progression to Abigail's back story and character development.

It's been a few dreary years, but Outpost 28 is currently clawing its way from a dark and deep slumber to be resurrected once again! Back with a disturbing vengeance, this second issue will feature soul-swallowing horror, phantasmic darkness, and a suitable dose of brain-munching zombies. The illustrations lurking within these ancient pages are even more sinister and foul. The artistic talent will be dripping from each page.

Issue #2 features grim tales by Ayesha Ahmad, Christa Carmen, Rachael Alexandra, Dean Kuhta, and Victor Johnston as well as artwork by professional artists like Andy Fairhurst, Michael Brack, Socar Myles, and Brett Gray. Ayesha's zombie tale, "The After," will continue from where we left off in issue #1. A new piece, "Windowpane," by Dean, will feature a ghostly back-story of Abigail Somberlain from the Silvarum series. In addition, there will be a follow-up interview with Jason Walton from Khorada and Agalloch and Tim Cretella from Doppio Music. A couple other surprises may be included in this issue if the stars are aligned just right. Reserve your copy of issue #2 today to enjoy the many curious worlds of Outpost 28!

Well, I need to fill the rest of this empty space with text, so I guess I'll leave a cool quote: “So books are real to me, too; they link me not just with other minds but with the vision of other minds, what those minds understand and see. I see their worlds as well as I see my own.” ― Philip K. Dick, The Transmigration of Timothy Archer

Here's a detailed map that I recently completed for the Silvarum series. Many of your favorite haunts and hangouts are now easily located thanks to this handy-dandy document. Looking for a quick cup of coffee and a snack? Head on over to The Dharma Tearoom (8). Or can't decide where to take your lovely date on a Friday night? How about a quaint stroll along the rancid shores of the River Walk (11)? Have fun!

Illustrated by the esteemed cartographer and engineer, S. Quinthorpe, this map of the city of Kadiaphonek features all of the main districts, pyramids, and many other attractions. During Ben and Gothkar's escape from the heart of the city (in chapter XXV), they must navigate through the series of small pyramids. Their adventure is literally mapped out within this drawing.

For those brave souls that have already read the first part of Silvarum, and are painfully awaiting for their next fix of delightful characters such as Merkresh, Roger, Abigail, and Click, I have recorded a document that may tide you over until that time comes. This section contains a running status of the second half of the chapters of Book I: Frost. Check it out often to see which new chapters are completed. I'll probably add chapter snippets when I get around to it! I'm hoping to have the full volume completed by fall 2018.

I recently wrote a piece for Dead Reckonings, a journal by Hippocampus Press, entitled "The Art of NecronomiCon." It's a reflection of my experience as a gallery artist and vendor during the 2017 NecronomiCon in Providence, Rhode Island. My copy is in the mail and I'll post some interior shots of the book soon!

My friend Michelle over at Green Hand Books in Portland has graced her blog with the images of my new book Silvarum. It's so cool to see it in a stack of Lovecraftian styled books. Michelle and I got to chat a few times during this year's NecronomiCon, and these are some of the books she picked up. Be sure to check out her site and read the blog!

The time has finally arrived for me to gather my drawings and books and venture through the rolling hills of New England to the haunted corners and courtyards of Providence, Rhode Island. The 2017 NecronomiCon is upon us! I will be setting up a decrepit, web-covered vendor table to sell a collection of my disturbingly whimsical and grim illustrations. I will also be featuring many fresh copies of Silvarum, my new novel based on a bunch of annoying teenagers that slay demons and monsters and stuff. Click here to follow the journey!

Behold! Three years of sweat and tears have magically turned into a real life book. Silvarum has finally arrived and I couldn't be happier with this version's look and feel and overall construction. The quality of the book is top notch! The paperback cover has a matte finish with a slight texture and the pages have a 60lb weight with an oyster tone. The quality of the interior illustrations turned out fantastic. There are fifteen full page illustrations plus the twenty-two smaller illustrations for each chapter heading. I mentioned in a previous update that I was going to have the cover title printed in a silver foil. I decided to hold off on that fanciness until the second batch. Those should be available next month. So, friends, please order a copy of Silvarum, Book I: Frost today and check it out! It has a little bit of everything in there. Fantasy, action, magic, tons of sarcasm, horror, and a cool dude called Gothkar. Now, back to writing Part II!

Your favorite creepy lady will be on display as part of the 2017 Ars Necronomica exhibition from August 16-31 at the Woods-Gerry Gallery at the RISD. This is an ink drawing that I did in 2006 as a collaboration with my friend Ben Jungbluth. I get asked all the time what this drawing is supposed to mean. Who knows!? Like any piece of good artwork, the meaning is what you make it. Over the years I have seen all kinds of reactions to this specific drawing. Sadness, amazement toward the drawing style, and even disgust. In my opinion, that is the purpose of art. To evoke an emotion that is relative to your own experience. Also, please do not ask me what that thing is coming out of the water. I don't know!

Silvarum, Book I: Frost is done! Well, the first part, Part I: The Woods, is complete. I decided to split the two parts of Book I into separate books. My plan is to combine them into one book (600+ pages) once I have Part II: Departure completed (in about a year or so). Sorry, it takes me forever to write and draw stuff. Anyway, the first part of Book I is at the printers right now and should be available for purchase in about a week. Part I is 300 pages long, has twenty-two chapters, illustrated maps of the region/world, and seven illustrated notebook pages and artifacts recovered from the streets of Nexxathia. "That crap is happening all over again whether you care or not. So, you had better start paying attention. And if we do not handle it like we did before, then all of this is finished. This great coffee, your new studio, even Kad itself. They are coming." -Benjamin Woods

Wew! Writing, illustrating, and designing a book series all by yourself takes a long time (this project started in 2014). I have a few updates on the status of Silvarum. First off, the first book, Silvarum, Book I: Frost, Part I: The Woods, is still on schedule to be published and available by August. Probably sooner since I'm finishing up the last bit of editing now and only have a couple maps and chapter illustrations to complete. The cover design is done. Click here to get a good view of the front and back cover. One cool feature for the front cover is that I'm going to have the title in a stamped silver foil. Much more to come!

Hell yea! I've been invited to be one of the vendors at this year's NecronomiCon Providence 2017 that runs from August 17-20! I'm now doing shows and selling my work with the official organizations of my two favorite authors of all time: H.P. Lovecraft and Edger Allen Poe. This means that for the NecronomiCon in August, I'll be making the eldritch and cyclopean journey under a gibbous moon up to Providence, Rhode Island to display my work and take part in the weirdest collection of Lovecraft freaks in the country. In 2013 I was also a participant with the NecronomiCon, but was unable to attend in person. This year, however, I'm all in. In addition to hustling an irrational amount of original artwork and large prints, I'm also planning for this event to be the first time I show off my current book project. Silvarum, Book I: Frost is 50% complete (around 500 pages when done), but I'm confident that I'll have it wrapped up and published by the show. I can't think of a better place to unveil it than at the official H.P. Lovecraft convention. Loathsomeness waits and dreams in the deep, and decay spreads over the tottering cities of men. A time will come—but I must not and cannot think! Let me pray that, if I do not survive this manuscript, my executors may put caution before audacity and see that it meets no other eye.

Wow! What a fun time I had at Poe's 208th Birthday Bash today at the Edgar Allen Poe museum in Richmond, Va! I met a ton of people and made some new friends and had a super cool time celebrating Poe's birthday and talking about art all day. The weather was overcast and foggy and grey and miserable. PERFECT! It set the optimal mood and atmosphere for the celebration of America's most macabre and dark writer. Even though there was a little mist now and then throughout the day, it wasn't a big deal and I occasionally had to wipe off the build up on my prints and books. Easy! My little table and display were featured in the brick and ivy courtyard of the museum. A couple of the museum's black cats, Pluto and (I forget the name of the other one. Edit 7/18/17: His name is Edgar! Duh.), roamed around the grounds and now and then stopped by to say hello. Check out the photo on the right of Pluto expressing his admiration for my cross-hatching and shading skills. That black cat really knows what the hell he's talking about! Happy 208th Birthday Edgar!!!

Woohoo! I've been invited to be one of a handful of local artists to display and sell artwork at this year's Poe Birthday Bash at the Poe museum in Richmond, Va! This will be my first time attending the birthday bash and this looks awesome. Live music, a reading of The Pit and the Pendulum, a screening of Poe movies, and birthday cake! It's been a while since my last show, so I gotta get crackin' and make some prints and stuff!

Whaaaaaaaa?! The second day of 2017 and I've completed another character portrait for Silvarum. I hereby declare 2017 the year of the art. OK, that sounds stupid. Uhhh, say hello to Marie Woods. She's one of Roger's sisters and she's fifteen years old. She doesn't have a cool looking mask like her younger brother, but she does have some pretty rad magical abilities. What are they, you ask? Book. Patience. It's coming. In the meantime, I'm going to try and complete her older sister's portrait tonight. *grabs pencil*

Holy sh*t! I actually started and completed a drawing on the first day of the year. Yesterday I said I wanted 2017 to be artastic and I guess I really meant it. Anyway, this is the first of many character portraits to come for my overly epic story idea called Silvarum. Say hello to Roger Woods, one of the main protagonists. *wave* He's a fourteen year old boy and right now he's featuring his demon-alien-slaying mask. It has all kinds of cool features and gadgets, but you'll just have to wait and read the book to find out what they do, now won't you? hmmph.

The last day of 2016 and I finally got around to finishing the first illustration for the Bates Map project for the Edgar Allen Poe museum in Richmond. Dude, I have been slacking this year in the art department! Let's make 2017 artastic (that was lame, I know). In full disclosure, I positioned a couple of the buildings in the wrong direction, but this piece was mainly to achieve a specific style. I'll get them right in the next drawing I swear!

OK here is cool project number one for the Poe museum. I'm going to begin an illustration for a giant map of Richmond from 1835. The map I'm going to be using as a reference is the Bates map that was published in 1835. On the right is a photo of the 3-D model of Richmond from that time. My task is to combine both versions into an insanely detailed, ink illustration. Follow the progress here!

I am stoked to report that I will be working on two commissioned projects for the Edgar Allen Poe museum in downtown Richmod, Va. I will be doing three illustrations to start with. The first is an illustrated map of downtown Richmond as it was during 1835. Next will be two ink illustrations for a couple of Poe's stories. I'll be posting sketches and finished pieces here, so stay tuned friends. "I must perish in this deplorable folly. Thus, thus, and not otherwise, shall I be lost."